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The Kings #1
Kings or Pawns
Alternate cover for this ISBN can be found here: Kings or Pawns
The first book in JJ Sherwood's Steps of Power epic fantasy series. The Kings, Book I: Kings or Pawns is a political intrigue that spirals into an action and adventure series as the final events unfold.
8,994 P.E.—The elven city of Elvorium has become corrupted to the core by politics. With his father dead and the Royal Schism at his back, Prince Hairem ascends the throne as king of the elven world on Sevrigel. Young and bold, Hairem is determined to undo the council’s power, but the brutal murders by an assassin loosed within the city threaten to undermine the king’s ambitions.
As corruption and death threaten to tear Elvorium apart from within, the warlord Saebellus threatens the city from without, laying siege to Sevrigel’s eastern capital. With the elven world crumbling around him, Hairem finds himself in a dangerous political balance between peace and all out war.
The first book in JJ Sherwood's Steps of Power epic fantasy series. The Kings, Book I: Kings or Pawns is a political intrigue that spirals into an action and adventure series as the final events unfold.
8,994 P.E.—The elven city of Elvorium has become corrupted to the core by politics. With his father dead and the Royal Schism at his back, Prince Hairem ascends the throne as king of the elven world on Sevrigel. Young and bold, Hairem is determined to undo the council’s power, but the brutal murders by an assassin loosed within the city threaten to undermine the king’s ambitions.
As corruption and death threaten to tear Elvorium apart from within, the warlord Saebellus threatens the city from without, laying siege to Sevrigel’s eastern capital. With the elven world crumbling around him, Hairem finds himself in a dangerous political balance between peace and all out war.
383 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2015
About the author
J.J. Sherwood
2 books104 followersBlog Here: http://www.stepsofpower.com/news.php
Facebook Here: https://www.facebook.com/stepsofpower
The release of Book 3 of The Kings (Gods or Men) is TBA.
--
On a cold winter night, wind howling into the desert sky, one ordinary hospital gave witness to a historic event. JJ Sherwood was born at 2:30 a.m. on December 31st, just barely managing to squeeze in to supplant New Year's Eve. JJ has always had a flair for the dramatics.
Sherwood began writing in the womb after a harrowing incident in which Mother Sherwood swallowed a pen--and thus, destiny was born. JJ's first work was completed by the age of 5: a riveting tale of a duck attempting to climb into an apartment during the pouring rain. Unfortunately this book is not in print, but it served as the first spark that spurred on a lifetime of creativity.
Much of JJ's childhood was spent tearing through the woods, playing out fantasy worlds, and tying Barbie to the roof so that the Power Rangers might rescue her. Middle and high school carried on this roleplaying, while college encompassed creating and refining over 250 characters in the world of Aersadore.
After escaping college, finally armed with the tools of the trade and a lifetime of development, JJ set to writing what would become the Steps of Power series: it was then that Eraydon slew his first dragon, Jikun battled the warlord Saebellus, and Taranus rebelled against his brother's throne.
When not orchestrating the lives and deaths of the people of Aersadore, JJ's hobbies include drawing, video gaming, wearing a bathrobe, and eating too many baked potatoes. JJ Sherwood lives in Cincinnati, Ohio with one loving and extremely patient spouse, a bearded dragon, a mule, a horse, and five cats who look far too similar.
Facebook Here: https://www.facebook.com/stepsofpower
The release of Book 3 of The Kings (Gods or Men) is TBA.
--
On a cold winter night, wind howling into the desert sky, one ordinary hospital gave witness to a historic event. JJ Sherwood was born at 2:30 a.m. on December 31st, just barely managing to squeeze in to supplant New Year's Eve. JJ has always had a flair for the dramatics.
Sherwood began writing in the womb after a harrowing incident in which Mother Sherwood swallowed a pen--and thus, destiny was born. JJ's first work was completed by the age of 5: a riveting tale of a duck attempting to climb into an apartment during the pouring rain. Unfortunately this book is not in print, but it served as the first spark that spurred on a lifetime of creativity.
Much of JJ's childhood was spent tearing through the woods, playing out fantasy worlds, and tying Barbie to the roof so that the Power Rangers might rescue her. Middle and high school carried on this roleplaying, while college encompassed creating and refining over 250 characters in the world of Aersadore.
After escaping college, finally armed with the tools of the trade and a lifetime of development, JJ set to writing what would become the Steps of Power series: it was then that Eraydon slew his first dragon, Jikun battled the warlord Saebellus, and Taranus rebelled against his brother's throne.
When not orchestrating the lives and deaths of the people of Aersadore, JJ's hobbies include drawing, video gaming, wearing a bathrobe, and eating too many baked potatoes. JJ Sherwood lives in Cincinnati, Ohio with one loving and extremely patient spouse, a bearded dragon, a mule, a horse, and five cats who look far too similar.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 89 reviews
July 24, 2016
Epic Fantasy or Political Thriller? Good question, with all the awe-inspiring kingdom to view, the warlord battering at the gate, centaurs roaming the fields, and elves ruling a corrupt empire that Prince Hairem wants to change, idealistically, from within.
This isn't an average fantasy entry. It's meticulously thought out, with tons of PoV's, a lot of plot and attempts to weed out the unstable or illegal elements of the empire, like the use of necromancy, or just trying to prevent yourself from being on the assassin's list. It reads a lot like a political intrigue, with humans on the bottom and the elves being the long, long standing old-guard. In that respect, it reminds me a lot of the notable The Goblin Emperor without the goblin.
At least with this one, we've got actual battles and a very memorable warlord to contend with, too.
And mute, ass-kicking servant Alvena, of course, who was a breath of fresh air.
This is honestly a more thought-provoking epic fantasy than a bloody one, and while it does suffer from what most epic fantasies suffer from, a plethora of PoV's that may or may not get lost in the shuffle without a good roster and a glossary, a good handful of characters are sufficiently awesome to pull even an audiobook reader through without the visual aid. Mostly. Though, I do kinda wish I had one, regardless. :)
The reveals were pretty handy, though, as a way to pin the tale down pretty solidly, and the last one? Oh lordy, well, that certainly puts a whole new spin on the rest of the novel, so be prepared. :) It's subtle and deadly. Or not so subtle for us, the reader, while being supremely so for everyone else. :)
I really enjoyed the book. My only desire was more descriptions. I felt twinges of awe when the empire was described visually, and many other little times, and found myself just praying for more. Also, I'd have loved a more robust handling of the character-drawing to make all the players pop out for me so as to keep things grounded and real in my mind, but these things might be purely personal quips and not a deal-breaker by far. I'm looking forward to reading more. :) I'm certain that all fans of Erikson and Abercrombie will appreciate this book.
Oh! And thanks goes to the author for the audiobook version to review from! It was a very pleasant surprise. :)
Update 7/23/16:
Giveaway Time! I know some of you out there like free shit, right? Here's a raffle for the book. Starting on the July 25th through Sept 10. :)
a Rafflecopter giveaway
This isn't an average fantasy entry. It's meticulously thought out, with tons of PoV's, a lot of plot and attempts to weed out the unstable or illegal elements of the empire, like the use of necromancy, or just trying to prevent yourself from being on the assassin's list. It reads a lot like a political intrigue, with humans on the bottom and the elves being the long, long standing old-guard. In that respect, it reminds me a lot of the notable The Goblin Emperor without the goblin.
At least with this one, we've got actual battles and a very memorable warlord to contend with, too.
And mute, ass-kicking servant Alvena, of course, who was a breath of fresh air.
This is honestly a more thought-provoking epic fantasy than a bloody one, and while it does suffer from what most epic fantasies suffer from, a plethora of PoV's that may or may not get lost in the shuffle without a good roster and a glossary, a good handful of characters are sufficiently awesome to pull even an audiobook reader through without the visual aid. Mostly. Though, I do kinda wish I had one, regardless. :)
The reveals were pretty handy, though, as a way to pin the tale down pretty solidly, and the last one? Oh lordy, well, that certainly puts a whole new spin on the rest of the novel, so be prepared. :) It's subtle and deadly. Or not so subtle for us, the reader, while being supremely so for everyone else. :)
I really enjoyed the book. My only desire was more descriptions. I felt twinges of awe when the empire was described visually, and many other little times, and found myself just praying for more. Also, I'd have loved a more robust handling of the character-drawing to make all the players pop out for me so as to keep things grounded and real in my mind, but these things might be purely personal quips and not a deal-breaker by far. I'm looking forward to reading more. :) I'm certain that all fans of Erikson and Abercrombie will appreciate this book.
Oh! And thanks goes to the author for the audiobook version to review from! It was a very pleasant surprise. :)
Update 7/23/16:
Giveaway Time! I know some of you out there like free shit, right? Here's a raffle for the book. Starting on the July 25th through Sept 10. :)
a Rafflecopter giveaway
August 21, 2016
Originally reviewed at Bookwraiths.
J.J. Sherwood introduces us to the elven Realm of Sevrigel with her debut novel Kings or Pawns, conveying readers to a complex, diverse land where young King Hairem attempts to tame the corrupt political machinations of the capital city while his General Jikun strives to defeat the seemingly invincible forces of Lord Saebellus and his beast. Their individual quests forcing them to brave tense council room intrigue, dabble with outlawed and soul destroying magic, strive to trust one another, win unwinnable battles, and somehow find a way to hold their kingdom together when it appears to be unraveling before their eyes.
The main theme weaving throughout this narrative is one of trust. Does young, idealistic King Hairem trust those around him? The stuffy, arrogant, (and perhaps corrupted) council? His blunt, jaded general? The beautiful daughter of a political rival whom he believes he loves? Or should he trust his own intuitions and break with the deeply held traditions of his people, forging a new way for all of them?
As for General Jikun, he must deal with a different form of trust, specifically his mistrust. He did not trust King Hairem’s father, and, now, he doesn’t trust in his new liege, specifically his ability to control the seemingly compromised members of his government. He doesn’t trust his closest confidant, Captain Navon, from practicing the dark arts of necromancy — for all the right reasons. He doesn’t trust the upbringing ingrained in him by his family in the icy tundra of far off Darival. Hell, he doesn’t even trust himself to love his beloved Kaivervi. And, most worrisome, he has no trust in his ability to defeat Lord Saebellus and his beast.
The key strength to this narrative is the characters. Instantly, a reader will gain a feeling for who and what King Hairem and General Jikun are. Their differing personalities quickly sketched out; their differences highlighted by a meeting at the beginning of the story. The course of their individual journeys and their growing relationship organically grown throughout. Above of all else, their motives drive them toward a single goal they can agree upon: the survival and resurrection of the Kingdom of Sevrigel.
I have to admit loving the world Sherwood has created here. The amount of worldbuilding is immense. Tiny details involving history, religion, politics, magic, and social customs littered about the narrative. All of it surprisingly rich, Tolkien-esque, if you will, with differing cultures that felt real and with characters who were different, not just said to be different. And other than a few info dumps in the first few chapters, the worldbuilding was craftily woven into the ongoing action and intrigue, seamlessly devoured without any noticing it was happening. The entirety of it the author achievement very impressive, as I feel I learned so much about this place without ever feeling distracted from the plot itself.
The main criticism I have with the novel is the lack of antagonists in the book. Yes, Lord Saebellus is mentioned throughout, everyone saying what a total badass he and his beast are, but — except for a few prologue pages — we don’t see him at all until the end. Rather, he is a ghostly presence in the background. People say he should be feared. People act as if he could destroy everyone and everything, but no one seems terribly worried about it until the last quarter of the book. And even the assassins and centaurs (who also share the role of antagonists) are more lightning flashes of badness before they are quickly gone. I totally understand the approach to keep the main villain in the background, build up the suspense before revealing him in all his dark glory, but here it did not work quite as well due to the lack of fear the main characters seemed to have for him.
J.J. Sherwood has gifted epic fantasy readers with a real treat in Kings or Pawns. It is a well-built fantasy with complex characters, serious themes, adventure, action, and a richly, detailed world. So, if you are looking for a new epic fantasy with the grand feel of The Lord of the Rings but with the swashbuckling excitement of Salvatore’s The Legend of Drizzt, you have found it in Kings or Pawns. I am eagerly looking forward to the next installment in the series.
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review. I’d like to thank them for allowing me to receive this review copy and inform everyone that the review you have read is my opinion alone.
J.J. Sherwood introduces us to the elven Realm of Sevrigel with her debut novel Kings or Pawns, conveying readers to a complex, diverse land where young King Hairem attempts to tame the corrupt political machinations of the capital city while his General Jikun strives to defeat the seemingly invincible forces of Lord Saebellus and his beast. Their individual quests forcing them to brave tense council room intrigue, dabble with outlawed and soul destroying magic, strive to trust one another, win unwinnable battles, and somehow find a way to hold their kingdom together when it appears to be unraveling before their eyes.
The main theme weaving throughout this narrative is one of trust. Does young, idealistic King Hairem trust those around him? The stuffy, arrogant, (and perhaps corrupted) council? His blunt, jaded general? The beautiful daughter of a political rival whom he believes he loves? Or should he trust his own intuitions and break with the deeply held traditions of his people, forging a new way for all of them?
As for General Jikun, he must deal with a different form of trust, specifically his mistrust. He did not trust King Hairem’s father, and, now, he doesn’t trust in his new liege, specifically his ability to control the seemingly compromised members of his government. He doesn’t trust his closest confidant, Captain Navon, from practicing the dark arts of necromancy — for all the right reasons. He doesn’t trust the upbringing ingrained in him by his family in the icy tundra of far off Darival. Hell, he doesn’t even trust himself to love his beloved Kaivervi. And, most worrisome, he has no trust in his ability to defeat Lord Saebellus and his beast.
The key strength to this narrative is the characters. Instantly, a reader will gain a feeling for who and what King Hairem and General Jikun are. Their differing personalities quickly sketched out; their differences highlighted by a meeting at the beginning of the story. The course of their individual journeys and their growing relationship organically grown throughout. Above of all else, their motives drive them toward a single goal they can agree upon: the survival and resurrection of the Kingdom of Sevrigel.
I have to admit loving the world Sherwood has created here. The amount of worldbuilding is immense. Tiny details involving history, religion, politics, magic, and social customs littered about the narrative. All of it surprisingly rich, Tolkien-esque, if you will, with differing cultures that felt real and with characters who were different, not just said to be different. And other than a few info dumps in the first few chapters, the worldbuilding was craftily woven into the ongoing action and intrigue, seamlessly devoured without any noticing it was happening. The entirety of it the author achievement very impressive, as I feel I learned so much about this place without ever feeling distracted from the plot itself.
The main criticism I have with the novel is the lack of antagonists in the book. Yes, Lord Saebellus is mentioned throughout, everyone saying what a total badass he and his beast are, but — except for a few prologue pages — we don’t see him at all until the end. Rather, he is a ghostly presence in the background. People say he should be feared. People act as if he could destroy everyone and everything, but no one seems terribly worried about it until the last quarter of the book. And even the assassins and centaurs (who also share the role of antagonists) are more lightning flashes of badness before they are quickly gone. I totally understand the approach to keep the main villain in the background, build up the suspense before revealing him in all his dark glory, but here it did not work quite as well due to the lack of fear the main characters seemed to have for him.
J.J. Sherwood has gifted epic fantasy readers with a real treat in Kings or Pawns. It is a well-built fantasy with complex characters, serious themes, adventure, action, and a richly, detailed world. So, if you are looking for a new epic fantasy with the grand feel of The Lord of the Rings but with the swashbuckling excitement of Salvatore’s The Legend of Drizzt, you have found it in Kings or Pawns. I am eagerly looking forward to the next installment in the series.
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review. I’d like to thank them for allowing me to receive this review copy and inform everyone that the review you have read is my opinion alone.
January 5, 2016
Corruption reigns on the elven world of Sevrigel. The government is run by a council of Elves and King Silandrus being fed up with the political situation left the city of Elvorium with his supporters called the true bloods years ago. After the death of his father Prince Hairem is now in charge of the Elven kingdom and he plans on bringing peace to Sevrigel.
This is no easy task, the council of Elves has their own interests they are working against him and a warlord named Saebellus is threatening to take over Sevrigel’s Eastern capital. To make matters worse an assassin is loose in the city and killing members of the Elven council. Hairem has the impossible task of fixing the corrupt Elven council, bringing peace to his world and trying to figure out who is his friend and who is trying to manipulate him.
Kings Or Pawns by J J Sherwood is a work of Epic fantasy. In all honesty I’m a horror fan and not a huge fan of fantasy but I was sold on this book by the cover art. When I started it I saw the glossary of terms and map of the world where it takes place and I thought I’m not going to like this. I enjoy a book that creates its own mythology but I get bored with too much world building. I decided to read on and became hooked on the characters.
In chapter one there is a discussion between two of the characters Jikun and Navon on religion. Navon talks about going to a religious temple to give thanks and Jikun says he will not thank the gods until he sees them at work. I love the debate they have and at this point you think this is going to be a serious novel but then later you get a little humor as Navon starts to read Jikun’s poetry even though Jikun doesn’t want him to. We then meet Hairem and learn that he is not what you expect a king to be and he hints that he will do things different then his father did but he doesn’t have as much power as he thinks.
I felt like this book was a political thriller first and foremost. I loved the character of Hairem, he is idealistic and believes he can change things but he learns while dealing with the Elven council that he is not really in charge and at one point he asks himself am I a king or just a pawn of the council. To add another layer to it we see the people who are giving him advice and are left to wonder what is everyone’s agenda here and everyone in this book does have an agenda. Even when it comes to his love interest you wonder is she loyal to the king or her father who is on the council and working against Hairem. We also get to know Harem’s servant girl Alvena who despite being low on the social ladder shows that she is quite intelligent and I loved that the king thinks of her as important despite her standing in society.
I love how the groundwork is set in the beginning of this book. Little by little you learn more about the world they live in and you are completely invested in the story as a political thriller before it becomes an action adventure story. Calling it epic fantasy almost seems like an understatement. It works on a lot of different levels and what really surprised me is that it’s from a first time author. J.J. Sherwood has spent 20 years writing this book and planning out the world where it takes place. You can see that this book was a labor of love, it’s well written and a fun ride. This is the first in a series and it introduces a world that mirrors are own in some ways but is very different in terms of mythology. If you love fantasy you have to read Kings Or Pawns.
This is no easy task, the council of Elves has their own interests they are working against him and a warlord named Saebellus is threatening to take over Sevrigel’s Eastern capital. To make matters worse an assassin is loose in the city and killing members of the Elven council. Hairem has the impossible task of fixing the corrupt Elven council, bringing peace to his world and trying to figure out who is his friend and who is trying to manipulate him.
Kings Or Pawns by J J Sherwood is a work of Epic fantasy. In all honesty I’m a horror fan and not a huge fan of fantasy but I was sold on this book by the cover art. When I started it I saw the glossary of terms and map of the world where it takes place and I thought I’m not going to like this. I enjoy a book that creates its own mythology but I get bored with too much world building. I decided to read on and became hooked on the characters.
In chapter one there is a discussion between two of the characters Jikun and Navon on religion. Navon talks about going to a religious temple to give thanks and Jikun says he will not thank the gods until he sees them at work. I love the debate they have and at this point you think this is going to be a serious novel but then later you get a little humor as Navon starts to read Jikun’s poetry even though Jikun doesn’t want him to. We then meet Hairem and learn that he is not what you expect a king to be and he hints that he will do things different then his father did but he doesn’t have as much power as he thinks.
I felt like this book was a political thriller first and foremost. I loved the character of Hairem, he is idealistic and believes he can change things but he learns while dealing with the Elven council that he is not really in charge and at one point he asks himself am I a king or just a pawn of the council. To add another layer to it we see the people who are giving him advice and are left to wonder what is everyone’s agenda here and everyone in this book does have an agenda. Even when it comes to his love interest you wonder is she loyal to the king or her father who is on the council and working against Hairem. We also get to know Harem’s servant girl Alvena who despite being low on the social ladder shows that she is quite intelligent and I loved that the king thinks of her as important despite her standing in society.
I love how the groundwork is set in the beginning of this book. Little by little you learn more about the world they live in and you are completely invested in the story as a political thriller before it becomes an action adventure story. Calling it epic fantasy almost seems like an understatement. It works on a lot of different levels and what really surprised me is that it’s from a first time author. J.J. Sherwood has spent 20 years writing this book and planning out the world where it takes place. You can see that this book was a labor of love, it’s well written and a fun ride. This is the first in a series and it introduces a world that mirrors are own in some ways but is very different in terms of mythology. If you love fantasy you have to read Kings Or Pawns.
August 1, 2016
“When I was a boy in Darival, a priest of Sel’ari came through. A group of youths beat him dead for the single coin in his pocket. I don’t think Sel’ari cares about any of us, Navon, more than she’d care about one of her priests. And if she did not see fit to save him, then we’re all going to the grave, god or no god.”
I liked Jikun the most… blasphemous and true to his opinion. But also fair and with a strong common sense.
“Jikun, may I give you some advice?” He paused, meeting his eyes steadily. “Pull out the stick the Sel’vi have shoved up your ass, and relax.”
OK, so he was uptight at times, but these are the characteristics you would expect from a king’s army general after all.
If this book was music, it would be power metal. Good pace, makes your heart thump, strong characters and a strong story delivered with beautiful wordmanship. So, as you can gather, the writing in this book is incredibly good.
The cast of characters is … wow, it’s wide! As I read this book, I was took from the King’s court where the Council’s corruption rules to the battle fields where Jikun and his army fight Saebellus, from the swamp where centaurs reside to Jikun’s homeplace Darival where everything is icy and wolves are pets. Even though the cast is numerous, it is very easy to get to know each and every character as the book progresses.
The writing is just quality stuff! Every scene, every emotion, every elf is delivered to the reader on a silver platter… For example, when Jikun returns home to Darival after being in battle with Saebellus for 3 years… wow, the description of what he feels… I could relate, because I go through something like this every time I visit Estonia.
Before this review gets overly sappy- Jikun is also a manwhore. Prostitution among other things is punishable by death. Jikun, however, oh he pays for his ladies.
Because the whole book isn’t only about Jikun, let’s move on to King Hairem and his court. As you’ve gathered, the King’s Council is full of corrupt assholes. Hairem starts to feel he is not a King at all, but the Council’s pawn… will he manage to overturn this game of power? In all fairness, his heart is in the right place and I was rather surprised to have a good King in a book which made it even more interesting, the power games. But will the good heart be his downfall? Politics is such a great topic to write a story around- you have so many villains to move about on the chessboard.
King has servants, as one would. Alvena is a mute servant girl who sees and hears everything. Because she sneaks around. She is also somewhat smitten by the King and their friendship is really rather nice. Because Alvena can’t speak and she is nosey, she ends up being like an info bank which she really can’t just easily communicate to others but that again made the whole book so much more interesting to read.30734821
For the love of books! The author possesses a wonderful imagination which she put to good use. This book is a perfect addition to any bookworm’s shelves.
I liked Jikun the most… blasphemous and true to his opinion. But also fair and with a strong common sense.
“Jikun, may I give you some advice?” He paused, meeting his eyes steadily. “Pull out the stick the Sel’vi have shoved up your ass, and relax.”
OK, so he was uptight at times, but these are the characteristics you would expect from a king’s army general after all.
If this book was music, it would be power metal. Good pace, makes your heart thump, strong characters and a strong story delivered with beautiful wordmanship. So, as you can gather, the writing in this book is incredibly good.
The cast of characters is … wow, it’s wide! As I read this book, I was took from the King’s court where the Council’s corruption rules to the battle fields where Jikun and his army fight Saebellus, from the swamp where centaurs reside to Jikun’s homeplace Darival where everything is icy and wolves are pets. Even though the cast is numerous, it is very easy to get to know each and every character as the book progresses.
The writing is just quality stuff! Every scene, every emotion, every elf is delivered to the reader on a silver platter… For example, when Jikun returns home to Darival after being in battle with Saebellus for 3 years… wow, the description of what he feels… I could relate, because I go through something like this every time I visit Estonia.
Before this review gets overly sappy- Jikun is also a manwhore. Prostitution among other things is punishable by death. Jikun, however, oh he pays for his ladies.
Because the whole book isn’t only about Jikun, let’s move on to King Hairem and his court. As you’ve gathered, the King’s Council is full of corrupt assholes. Hairem starts to feel he is not a King at all, but the Council’s pawn… will he manage to overturn this game of power? In all fairness, his heart is in the right place and I was rather surprised to have a good King in a book which made it even more interesting, the power games. But will the good heart be his downfall? Politics is such a great topic to write a story around- you have so many villains to move about on the chessboard.
King has servants, as one would. Alvena is a mute servant girl who sees and hears everything. Because she sneaks around. She is also somewhat smitten by the King and their friendship is really rather nice. Because Alvena can’t speak and she is nosey, she ends up being like an info bank which she really can’t just easily communicate to others but that again made the whole book so much more interesting to read.30734821
For the love of books! The author possesses a wonderful imagination which she put to good use. This book is a perfect addition to any bookworm’s shelves.
August 15, 2016
I must admit I’ve had this book on my TBR list for a while but I’m so glad I’ve finally had the time to read it. I’ve read a lot of fantasy books but not so many with the epic edge that make you believe a series had longevity.. this one does
The first part of the story was pure build-up. Full of descriptiveness to help you envisage the world the author has created along with the main characters within the book. The back story regarding the True Bloods pulled me in.. I hope to hear more of them in the next installment
The second part of the book is pure action with events playing out quickly, it’s one enjoyable ride that you honestly need to really sit down and take your time to enjoy.
Major plus points for this book were the characters and their development. Jikun and Navon were brilliant, their relationship as General and Captain was strained at times but you can see underneath it all they need each other. Navon’s skill/power was one of the most interesting developments in the tale
Hairem the King attended to by Alvena the mute girl (who was my favourite) gave something extra to the tale, her inner thoughts made her the most interesting character as she was always so blunt and honest to herself. I love how Hairem would communicate with her
Itirel was another character I really liked.. I wanted more of him if I’m honest..his part was over too quickly for me.I just loved his wit
I could go on forever.. Honestly I don’t think I’ve read something with some many characters I’ve actually enjoyed
So you want to know a bit more about the plot. Well the world is dark..there’s war coming and it’s Hairem’s duty to make sure his kingdom doesn’t fall with the help of his General Jikun..flawed he may be but he’s good at his job.
Another threat to the King comes in the form of his own council as he soon learns he’s not really the most powerful person as you’d expect.. Corruption is common place.. who can he trust?
There’s a lot to this book. Lots of individual stories playing out at the same time nicely knitted together by the author to create a complex world but one that is very easy to read a get lost in. The beauty of this book is in the detail.
The epic twist thrown in also caught me off guard; I had an inkling but still had the hand over mouth response when things finally played out.
Overall an interesting plot with even better characters made this one hell of a read! I couldn’t fault this book and I’ve been left wanting.. I need to know what happens next.
A definite must for anyone who enjoys fantasy. Top notch.
The first part of the story was pure build-up. Full of descriptiveness to help you envisage the world the author has created along with the main characters within the book. The back story regarding the True Bloods pulled me in.. I hope to hear more of them in the next installment
The second part of the book is pure action with events playing out quickly, it’s one enjoyable ride that you honestly need to really sit down and take your time to enjoy.
Major plus points for this book were the characters and their development. Jikun and Navon were brilliant, their relationship as General and Captain was strained at times but you can see underneath it all they need each other. Navon’s skill/power was one of the most interesting developments in the tale
Hairem the King attended to by Alvena the mute girl (who was my favourite) gave something extra to the tale, her inner thoughts made her the most interesting character as she was always so blunt and honest to herself. I love how Hairem would communicate with her
Itirel was another character I really liked.. I wanted more of him if I’m honest..his part was over too quickly for me.I just loved his wit
I could go on forever.. Honestly I don’t think I’ve read something with some many characters I’ve actually enjoyed
So you want to know a bit more about the plot. Well the world is dark..there’s war coming and it’s Hairem’s duty to make sure his kingdom doesn’t fall with the help of his General Jikun..flawed he may be but he’s good at his job.
Another threat to the King comes in the form of his own council as he soon learns he’s not really the most powerful person as you’d expect.. Corruption is common place.. who can he trust?
There’s a lot to this book. Lots of individual stories playing out at the same time nicely knitted together by the author to create a complex world but one that is very easy to read a get lost in. The beauty of this book is in the detail.
The epic twist thrown in also caught me off guard; I had an inkling but still had the hand over mouth response when things finally played out.
Overall an interesting plot with even better characters made this one hell of a read! I couldn’t fault this book and I’ve been left wanting.. I need to know what happens next.
A definite must for anyone who enjoys fantasy. Top notch.
August 17, 2015
If you are still wondering whether you should read this book, stop. Just read it. You will love it.
Kings or Pawns is fantastic!! It really has everything. I love fantasy books, but sometimes it can be really hard to find ones that have really strong characters. This one does, and I LOVE the characters! Kings or Pawns has multiple viewpoints, and this is like the first book where I actually love each point of view character. They're really diverse, from a serving girl to the general of the army.
There's a lot of action as well, which is great. The book starts with a lot of build up of the world and characters, and then a few chapters in an... event... (no spoilers!) happens and everything hits the floor running.
Also, I just LOVE the character Sellemar. XD he is such a badass.
Kings or Pawns is fantastic!! It really has everything. I love fantasy books, but sometimes it can be really hard to find ones that have really strong characters. This one does, and I LOVE the characters! Kings or Pawns has multiple viewpoints, and this is like the first book where I actually love each point of view character. They're really diverse, from a serving girl to the general of the army.
There's a lot of action as well, which is great. The book starts with a lot of build up of the world and characters, and then a few chapters in an... event... (no spoilers!) happens and everything hits the floor running.
Also, I just LOVE the character Sellemar. XD he is such a badass.
August 24, 2015
JJ Sherwood's first published work, "Kings or Pawns" from the "Steps of Power" series and edited by Alexandra Birr, is a high fantasy adventure set inside the world of Aesadore. The author's style is perfect for fantasy as JJ Sherwood's imagination is incredibly mesmerising and fun, allowing readers who are new to the world to comfortably learn about the societies and histories which fill it. As a prolific reader and avid high fantasy fan, I understand how difficult it can be to establish a whole new world which bears its own unique environment, only marginally similar to our own. JJ Sherwood's writing immerses the reader into what the characters are feeling and how the cultural impacts of their societies affect them; Giving great depth and care to each culture, encompassing the reader with deep understanding rarely found in others in the fantasy genre.
This attention to detail is found not only within the backstory but also within the writing itself, describing scenes beautifully, compelling the reader to feel as if they are there and can see JJ Sherwood's imagination first hand. With such a diverse world, it becomes imperative that the descriptions are both definite and unique; To these, JJ Sherwood has done a fantastic job. Regions are varied and refined towards their own environments; From the far northern frozen tundra of Darival where the fearsome Thakish roam to the southern marshes patrolled by roving centaurs, the world of Aesadore is gloriously massive and involved.
There are countless scenes where the absolute attention to detail is brilliantly showcased for both the environment and dialogue - as the characters are rich with unique motivations, their interactions are done equally as well. The banter between old friends and the enmity of council intrigue invoke a strong sense of empathy towards protagonists and antagonists alike. The details of dialogue establish the emotive responses and facial movements with characters, keeping the reader totally immersed in their thought processes as well as showing a wonderful attention to sentence structure. Few writers utilise both long and short sentences correctly and JJ Sherwood's strong understanding of how to implement both of these in the writing presents wonderful reading which flows well from page to page.
There is never a dull moment in Kings or Pawns, from the action packed battle scenes where martial prowess fills the pages to the dark interloping of council affairs. All of it is absolutely well-written and wonderfully described, intriguing the reader to eagerly turn the page to find out what lies in wait. It has been a while since I've read a high fantasy and suffice to say, I absolutely loved this book and can't wait until the next one is published.
Thank you for this brilliant read!
This attention to detail is found not only within the backstory but also within the writing itself, describing scenes beautifully, compelling the reader to feel as if they are there and can see JJ Sherwood's imagination first hand. With such a diverse world, it becomes imperative that the descriptions are both definite and unique; To these, JJ Sherwood has done a fantastic job. Regions are varied and refined towards their own environments; From the far northern frozen tundra of Darival where the fearsome Thakish roam to the southern marshes patrolled by roving centaurs, the world of Aesadore is gloriously massive and involved.
There are countless scenes where the absolute attention to detail is brilliantly showcased for both the environment and dialogue - as the characters are rich with unique motivations, their interactions are done equally as well. The banter between old friends and the enmity of council intrigue invoke a strong sense of empathy towards protagonists and antagonists alike. The details of dialogue establish the emotive responses and facial movements with characters, keeping the reader totally immersed in their thought processes as well as showing a wonderful attention to sentence structure. Few writers utilise both long and short sentences correctly and JJ Sherwood's strong understanding of how to implement both of these in the writing presents wonderful reading which flows well from page to page.
There is never a dull moment in Kings or Pawns, from the action packed battle scenes where martial prowess fills the pages to the dark interloping of council affairs. All of it is absolutely well-written and wonderfully described, intriguing the reader to eagerly turn the page to find out what lies in wait. It has been a while since I've read a high fantasy and suffice to say, I absolutely loved this book and can't wait until the next one is published.
Thank you for this brilliant read!
June 30, 2016
This book broke me!
Smashed my heart, took my hopes, mixed them with mud and threw into the sewers...
I don't know what to do with myself now
I'm just gonna lie down for a while (a few days should do) and think of nothing
And don't even tell me to go to work tomorrow, I'm in no condition to do so. I bet my doctor would sign up the sick leave, right? If not I'll make her read the book and she'll sign one for herself too!
Seriously, J.J. you broke me ;)
OK,now to the more serious review. I admit it took me a while to fully get into the story. The beginning might've not been so exciting, but it was a good introduction to the world, the main characters, and their current situation. The whole thing felt a bit like a mix of "Song of Ice and Fire" and "Legends of Drizzt", and by that I mean it well deserves a place on every fantasy-lover shelf! It's well written, has some exciting battles and even the political struggles and plotting were interesting (that's something I don't say often).
And the moments that crushed me? I really can't tell you without spoiling everything. I admit, I kind of felt some of these might happen, but not all! And not like THAT!
I need the next book....
Do yourself a favor and read this!
Oh, and the audio version is quite good. At first I though the narrator might annoy me with his a bit posh way of reading and some of the accents he was acting, but actually, it all fits, so I'll be happy to listen to him again as long as it's in a similar type of books.
I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review... because she knew what it will do to me ;)
Take a loot at my reviews at https://maginibooks.wordpress.com/
Smashed my heart, took my hopes, mixed them with mud and threw into the sewers...
I don't know what to do with myself now
I'm just gonna lie down for a while (a few days should do) and think of nothing
And don't even tell me to go to work tomorrow, I'm in no condition to do so. I bet my doctor would sign up the sick leave, right? If not I'll make her read the book and she'll sign one for herself too!
Seriously, J.J. you broke me ;)
OK,now to the more serious review. I admit it took me a while to fully get into the story. The beginning might've not been so exciting, but it was a good introduction to the world, the main characters, and their current situation. The whole thing felt a bit like a mix of "Song of Ice and Fire" and "Legends of Drizzt", and by that I mean it well deserves a place on every fantasy-lover shelf! It's well written, has some exciting battles and even the political struggles and plotting were interesting (that's something I don't say often).
And the moments that crushed me? I really can't tell you without spoiling everything. I admit, I kind of felt some of these might happen, but not all! And not like THAT!
I need the next book....
Do yourself a favor and read this!
Oh, and the audio version is quite good. At first I though the narrator might annoy me with his a bit posh way of reading and some of the accents he was acting, but actually, it all fits, so I'll be happy to listen to him again as long as it's in a similar type of books.
I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review... because she knew what it will do to me ;)
Take a loot at my reviews at https://maginibooks.wordpress.com/
August 31, 2016
Damn! That was a good book! (And I rarely ever start my reviews like this!)
Kings or Pawns by JJ Sherwood is the first instalment in the Steps of Power series. And what a start!
The novel deals with Hairem, who has ascended the throne after his father's passing, and who has to deal with a council of corrupt members, all working on their personal gains and away from the needs of their respective elven realms.
There is also the army general Jikun, whom we see as a bit selfish but nonetheless skilled and who at least has an idea about the duties of his role as a general and the sacrifices he has to make.
Moreover, there is the general's captain Navon, who dabbles in necromancy, despite his general's orders and despite there being a death penalty for such a practice. I particularly liked Navon's character: cynical, funny, wise and above all kind and loyal.
I also loved and enjoyed Sherwood's ability in creating her settings, which is made clear from the beginning of the novel.
There is character development – for good or worse – for various characters in the novel, including King Hairem, General Jikun and others. I also loved Alvena, a mute handmaid with a surprising role to play. She and Navon were my favourites in the novel.
Basically every character in Kings or Pawns has a role to play. No characters are redundant; those who come and go like messengers are not given names as they are not important. The author is lauded for that.
"The temperature in Darival had fallen with the sun, who had also, it seemed, taken her blanket of clouds with her."
Kings or Pawns had me thinking throughout and occasionally wondering if some characters were not as they appear. It also grabbed my interest towards the politics of running a country, albeit a fantastical ones, and had me wondering what happens when a good leader is surrounded by corrupt ones.
It is going to take me sometime to shake off the brilliant political intrigue and storytelling.
"Unlike the palace treasury, [the personal finances] of the council members were filling up like a halfling's pockets in a treasure trove."
I also liked the theme of entitlement throughout Kings or Pawns, which is seen in many characters but particularly the council members.
There are also several songs and poems in the novel, highlighting Sherwood's ability in writing both prose and poetry equally well.
The word flow throughout the whole book is exceptional. You don't want to miss a beat, even when things are calm and we're just given a description of place.
Kings or Pawns is fast paced and will probably keep you reading up all day and night as it did me. There might be some nail biting especially towards the second half of the book.
I would definitely love to pick up the second book in the Steps of Power series, but I need to get some sleep first!
My review is part of the August-long Steps of Power blog tour. I wanted so badly to go through the posts but did not want to come up on any spoilers. Check out the full tour here, which includes artwork, interviews, other reviews and more: http://www.stepsofpower.com/
Kings or Pawns by JJ Sherwood is the first instalment in the Steps of Power series. And what a start!
The novel deals with Hairem, who has ascended the throne after his father's passing, and who has to deal with a council of corrupt members, all working on their personal gains and away from the needs of their respective elven realms.
There is also the army general Jikun, whom we see as a bit selfish but nonetheless skilled and who at least has an idea about the duties of his role as a general and the sacrifices he has to make.
Moreover, there is the general's captain Navon, who dabbles in necromancy, despite his general's orders and despite there being a death penalty for such a practice. I particularly liked Navon's character: cynical, funny, wise and above all kind and loyal.
I also loved and enjoyed Sherwood's ability in creating her settings, which is made clear from the beginning of the novel.
There is character development – for good or worse – for various characters in the novel, including King Hairem, General Jikun and others. I also loved Alvena, a mute handmaid with a surprising role to play. She and Navon were my favourites in the novel.
Basically every character in Kings or Pawns has a role to play. No characters are redundant; those who come and go like messengers are not given names as they are not important. The author is lauded for that.
"The temperature in Darival had fallen with the sun, who had also, it seemed, taken her blanket of clouds with her."
Kings or Pawns had me thinking throughout and occasionally wondering if some characters were not as they appear. It also grabbed my interest towards the politics of running a country, albeit a fantastical ones, and had me wondering what happens when a good leader is surrounded by corrupt ones.
It is going to take me sometime to shake off the brilliant political intrigue and storytelling.
"Unlike the palace treasury, [the personal finances] of the council members were filling up like a halfling's pockets in a treasure trove."
I also liked the theme of entitlement throughout Kings or Pawns, which is seen in many characters but particularly the council members.
There are also several songs and poems in the novel, highlighting Sherwood's ability in writing both prose and poetry equally well.
The word flow throughout the whole book is exceptional. You don't want to miss a beat, even when things are calm and we're just given a description of place.
Kings or Pawns is fast paced and will probably keep you reading up all day and night as it did me. There might be some nail biting especially towards the second half of the book.
I would definitely love to pick up the second book in the Steps of Power series, but I need to get some sleep first!
My review is part of the August-long Steps of Power blog tour. I wanted so badly to go through the posts but did not want to come up on any spoilers. Check out the full tour here, which includes artwork, interviews, other reviews and more: http://www.stepsofpower.com/
August 10, 2016
Kat Mandu says…
So readers, you should probably know that I’m a huge fan of high fantasy. Give me epic battle scenes, kings and queens, ancient races like elves, dwarves, and orcs, and sword and sorcery any day. It’s pretty much everything I love since I’ve always been enamored with authors like J.R.R. Tolkien, Michael J. Sullivan, and Brandon Sanderson.
You can guess my excitement when I received JJ Sherwood’s first book in her trilogy, Kings or Pawns, as a One Book Two request. I practically jumped on it.
And guys, I was not let down. Elves + Necromancy + magic in general + some awesome battle scenes = Kat Mandu is a very happy person. Not to mention the absolutely beautiful writing. Every chapter and page are filled with descriptions that enable you to envision the whole book from start to finish. JJ has a lot going for her, including twists and turns that keep you guessing, but also that vivid imagery I mentioned above. It’s a great debut and I really enjoyed it.
Plus, when you’ve seen Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit movies a little too much, you tend to start picturing some of the elves in the book as certain actors (cough, cough Orlando Bloom) and that makes it really cool too.
What intrigued me so much about this was the “necromancy” and “demonic” plot lines. I’ve always loved the idea of necromancy—being able to bring someone back from the dead, controlling zombies and certain demons, not to mention the occasional ability to create dreams and nightmares with negative energy (Can you tell I’m a D&D nerd? Cause I am).
But there’s more than that. The whole book thrusts you into a world of political intrigue, favors, and deception. The characters bring the plot to life as it often switches points of view between a soldier with a couple of bad enemies he’s got to face on the battlefield, a fresh king dealing with dodgy Elven politics, and a few other interesting roles. Each character is unique and strong in their own ways as the plot moves forward and throws them to the wolves in different scenarios.
If you haven’t figured it out, I really liked this book. And I hope you do too! So check out the Steps of Power website here: www.StepsOfPower.com and join JJ’s mailing list for some cool stuff! Plus, that site looks great with all that fantasy-inspired artwork. I really love the visual you get when you hop on the page.
Ohhhh, and there’s a giveaway for it too: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/disp...?
So readers, you should probably know that I’m a huge fan of high fantasy. Give me epic battle scenes, kings and queens, ancient races like elves, dwarves, and orcs, and sword and sorcery any day. It’s pretty much everything I love since I’ve always been enamored with authors like J.R.R. Tolkien, Michael J. Sullivan, and Brandon Sanderson.
You can guess my excitement when I received JJ Sherwood’s first book in her trilogy, Kings or Pawns, as a One Book Two request. I practically jumped on it.
And guys, I was not let down. Elves + Necromancy + magic in general + some awesome battle scenes = Kat Mandu is a very happy person. Not to mention the absolutely beautiful writing. Every chapter and page are filled with descriptions that enable you to envision the whole book from start to finish. JJ has a lot going for her, including twists and turns that keep you guessing, but also that vivid imagery I mentioned above. It’s a great debut and I really enjoyed it.
Plus, when you’ve seen Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit movies a little too much, you tend to start picturing some of the elves in the book as certain actors (cough, cough Orlando Bloom) and that makes it really cool too.
What intrigued me so much about this was the “necromancy” and “demonic” plot lines. I’ve always loved the idea of necromancy—being able to bring someone back from the dead, controlling zombies and certain demons, not to mention the occasional ability to create dreams and nightmares with negative energy (Can you tell I’m a D&D nerd? Cause I am).
But there’s more than that. The whole book thrusts you into a world of political intrigue, favors, and deception. The characters bring the plot to life as it often switches points of view between a soldier with a couple of bad enemies he’s got to face on the battlefield, a fresh king dealing with dodgy Elven politics, and a few other interesting roles. Each character is unique and strong in their own ways as the plot moves forward and throws them to the wolves in different scenarios.
If you haven’t figured it out, I really liked this book. And I hope you do too! So check out the Steps of Power website here: www.StepsOfPower.com and join JJ’s mailing list for some cool stuff! Plus, that site looks great with all that fantasy-inspired artwork. I really love the visual you get when you hop on the page.
Ohhhh, and there’s a giveaway for it too: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/disp...?
July 29, 2016
This was a fantastic fantasy story. The author is very talented. The writing was beautiful and powerful. Many intimate details about the character, the weather, the landscape or structures around them were rendered with gorgeous detail. Unlike some other epic fantasy I have read, however, I was never bored while reading Kings or Pawns. Even though the story moves at a slow pace at times it was always interesting and never dull.
The story also has a lot of amazing fight scenes. There is combat between a few people and there are massive wars and you get to experience both. This book has really cool magic and awesome ancient mysteries. The world that the characters live in is old with a massive history to it but the author manages to pull this off authentically without boring you with a bunch of info dumps. This long and somewhat complicated epic fantasy story was written so well that it was an easy read. Very high praise.
I wish all epic fantasy was like this, then I would enjoy the whole book more instead of having to wade through boring stuff to get to the good awesome epic stuff. I really enjoyed the quiet moments in this book because they were done so well. All of the extra details the author provides you with make you feel like you are really immersed in the world of the book.
Without spoiling anything I'll end by saying that the direction the author chose to take in the third act of the story was bold. I can't figure out how to say more without spoiling anything but I'll just say that I respect the author for the brave choices they made while writing this story.
The only gripe I have with this book is that the author uses the phrase that the characters' "brows knit" like 1 million times. It got old fast. But other than that this book was fantastic and I'm still giving it five stars.
There is a lot to love about this awesome epic fantasy story about elves living in a rich well rendered world full of history, magic, action, and deeper relationships between characters. If you like epic fantasy you should really give this one a try.
The story also has a lot of amazing fight scenes. There is combat between a few people and there are massive wars and you get to experience both. This book has really cool magic and awesome ancient mysteries. The world that the characters live in is old with a massive history to it but the author manages to pull this off authentically without boring you with a bunch of info dumps. This long and somewhat complicated epic fantasy story was written so well that it was an easy read. Very high praise.
I wish all epic fantasy was like this, then I would enjoy the whole book more instead of having to wade through boring stuff to get to the good awesome epic stuff. I really enjoyed the quiet moments in this book because they were done so well. All of the extra details the author provides you with make you feel like you are really immersed in the world of the book.
Without spoiling anything I'll end by saying that the direction the author chose to take in the third act of the story was bold. I can't figure out how to say more without spoiling anything but I'll just say that I respect the author for the brave choices they made while writing this story.
The only gripe I have with this book is that the author uses the phrase that the characters' "brows knit" like 1 million times. It got old fast. But other than that this book was fantastic and I'm still giving it five stars.
There is a lot to love about this awesome epic fantasy story about elves living in a rich well rendered world full of history, magic, action, and deeper relationships between characters. If you like epic fantasy you should really give this one a try.
January 2, 2016
Kings or Pawns does something that we forget to appreciate in western fantasy. An incredibly strong use of literary devices that truly individualizes the experiences of each character without trivializing the impact.
Characters are largely Elven, though J.J. Sherwood moves away from Tolkien conception or popular recent takes on elven society and reforges a civilization at its military and economic zenith.
If you are familiar with history you'll see the slow creep of germanification in the legions, the rise of powerful generals with loyalties to distant lands still chafing under the yoke of Empire.
Each character has an important foil, an aspect of their life or individual who brings out the worst and best aspects of them and those foils are themselves breathing individuals who serve more than just a purpose of progressing the story, as there is no story without them.
As for its vernacular and jargon Sherwood provided us with a glossary of terms, to help remind us what some of the new words or people mean, yet doesn't stumble in the trap of over analyzing each scene.
There is gravity to the history of the world she has created without the immense weight of lengthy description. Just enough information to paint the scene and inform the reader of the relevance and importance of the various scenes people's and the dressings on the curtain. If Sherwood wrote it down, it's important, remember that detail, which speaks to the talent of the editor and the writers strong working relationship with them.
I truly recommend buying and enjoying this title. You'll find yourself easily taken in by the story, which will elicit an emotional response as the plot unfolds while staring down at the last pages
Characters are largely Elven, though J.J. Sherwood moves away from Tolkien conception or popular recent takes on elven society and reforges a civilization at its military and economic zenith.
If you are familiar with history you'll see the slow creep of germanification in the legions, the rise of powerful generals with loyalties to distant lands still chafing under the yoke of Empire.
Each character has an important foil, an aspect of their life or individual who brings out the worst and best aspects of them and those foils are themselves breathing individuals who serve more than just a purpose of progressing the story, as there is no story without them.
As for its vernacular and jargon Sherwood provided us with a glossary of terms, to help remind us what some of the new words or people mean, yet doesn't stumble in the trap of over analyzing each scene.
There is gravity to the history of the world she has created without the immense weight of lengthy description. Just enough information to paint the scene and inform the reader of the relevance and importance of the various scenes people's and the dressings on the curtain. If Sherwood wrote it down, it's important, remember that detail, which speaks to the talent of the editor and the writers strong working relationship with them.
I truly recommend buying and enjoying this title. You'll find yourself easily taken in by the story, which will elicit an emotional response as the plot unfolds while staring down at the last pages
January 5, 2016
I'm a big fantasy fan and as such I find it's rare to see a world of elves that's new and refreshing. That is what I found in this story. I find it very different for there to be such a militant style in elves, and there's plenty of intrigue throughout the story. Here we have a novel that develops both characters and the plot and holds interest throughout. This is another story where I actually wish I could read all of the books together in order. Not sure how long this one will be but I can't wait to read the next installment
Want to read
September 19, 2015Omfg. OMFG.
There's no other way to say this; this book looks absolutely fantastic. From the gorgeous cover to the intriguing premise, this seems to be everything I could ever want in a story. Plus, the early reviews so far seem very promising!
Now let's see if it actually delivers when Oct 1st rolls around!
There's no other way to say this; this book looks absolutely fantastic. From the gorgeous cover to the intriguing premise, this seems to be everything I could ever want in a story. Plus, the early reviews so far seem very promising!
Now let's see if it actually delivers when Oct 1st rolls around!
August 8, 2016
Find this review at Forever Lost in Literature!
Kings or Pawns was an exceptionally delightful read. From the very first pages, it easy to see that Sherwood clearly put her heart and soul into making this book be the absolute best it can be, and it completely shows. It's also clear that Sherwood not only loves and respects the high fantasy genre, but also spent an immense amount of time and effort into constructing her world, her characters, and the plot itself in order to make them wonderfully fleshed and full of life. Kings or Pawns reads like a classic fantasy story while also maintaining a very distinct, unique, and innovative take within fantasy. This world is fresh and her characters are entirely her own - no overused tropes in sight! (Thank goodness.)
The beginning took me a little while to get into, but I felt that there was potential, so I stuck with and it quickly paid off. It takes me a while to learn the characters and new worlds of a fantasy story, but Sherwood tackles this in a deft and enjoyable manner that created a captivating atmosphere.
There is an abundance of political intrigue and it is awesome. Now, I'll be honest and say that sometimes high political fantasy books can make me feel a bit bogged down and like I have to slog my way through a confusing political world with excess information - not so in Kings or Pawns! I sincerely enjoyed everything related to the politics and high class drama within this story.
Strong, engaging characters are also ever-present throughout Kings or Pawns. The point of view switches between a few different characters, and you know what? I didn't feel annoyed by any of the character's points of view. I loved them all. Each one was as engaging as the last and I am in awe of how well Sherwood constructed each character's distinct personality. I typically end up annoyed by point of view switches because I end up liking one more than the other (who doesn't?), but not this time! Each character had a very distinct voice that made it clear who was speaking and fit their own character.
To continue on with the subject of characters, let's talk about Jikun. Jikun is an incredible main character. He's someone that I have great respect for and seems like an honorable man, but he's not perfect by a long shot. He breaks the rules and follows his own path, which makes him well-rounded and an alluring character to follow. One minute he's a resolute general leading his army, the next he's paying for a prostitute to entertaining him - something that is highly illegal in this particular world, I might add. I was really impressed with how realistic and three-dimensional Jikun is, along with the rest of the characters as well.
We also have Navon, Jikun's co-general, who is similar in the fact that he's a powerful, respectable man, but he also breaks the rule by studying necromancy, an act punishable by death. And then there's Hairem, our newly appointed and inexperienced king who was thrust into the position as a result of his father's death. He struggles with the responsibility and power of being king, as well as with the political negotiations that come with such a position - i.e. figuring out how to deal with his council and not allow himself to be unheard and run over by other powerful political figures that don't want to listen to him. There are so many sides to each person that I felt constantly entertained, and as much as I would love to spend more time on each character, I think I'm going to leave them to you, dear readers, to discover.
And finally, one last thing (out of a great many things) that I loved about Kings or Pawns was the villains. These enemies are easily hated, but not necessarily purely evil - or, maybe they are? There is intrigue on all sides, and although I easily felt disdain towards the characters I was supposed to, I was also impressed and intrigued by their intelligence and sly deviousness, which I believe is the mark of a well-written villain.
Besides the somewhat-cliffhanger ending (which remains vague, spoilers here!), I can definitely see where potential for further expansion of this world in upcoming books lies. There are a few characters that I would have liked to see a bit more of, but I have a strong feeling that they will show up more in later books. In fact, I have the second book lined up on my Kindle right now and I plan to dive in within the next week!
I highly recommend this for any fans of high fantasy or political thrillers - or, quite frankly, anyone who's looking for an exciting read! Because of all the reasons mentioned above, I will be giving Kings or Pawns four-and-a-half stars!
Kings or Pawns was an exceptionally delightful read. From the very first pages, it easy to see that Sherwood clearly put her heart and soul into making this book be the absolute best it can be, and it completely shows. It's also clear that Sherwood not only loves and respects the high fantasy genre, but also spent an immense amount of time and effort into constructing her world, her characters, and the plot itself in order to make them wonderfully fleshed and full of life. Kings or Pawns reads like a classic fantasy story while also maintaining a very distinct, unique, and innovative take within fantasy. This world is fresh and her characters are entirely her own - no overused tropes in sight! (Thank goodness.)
The beginning took me a little while to get into, but I felt that there was potential, so I stuck with and it quickly paid off. It takes me a while to learn the characters and new worlds of a fantasy story, but Sherwood tackles this in a deft and enjoyable manner that created a captivating atmosphere.
There is an abundance of political intrigue and it is awesome. Now, I'll be honest and say that sometimes high political fantasy books can make me feel a bit bogged down and like I have to slog my way through a confusing political world with excess information - not so in Kings or Pawns! I sincerely enjoyed everything related to the politics and high class drama within this story.
Strong, engaging characters are also ever-present throughout Kings or Pawns. The point of view switches between a few different characters, and you know what? I didn't feel annoyed by any of the character's points of view. I loved them all. Each one was as engaging as the last and I am in awe of how well Sherwood constructed each character's distinct personality. I typically end up annoyed by point of view switches because I end up liking one more than the other (who doesn't?), but not this time! Each character had a very distinct voice that made it clear who was speaking and fit their own character.
To continue on with the subject of characters, let's talk about Jikun. Jikun is an incredible main character. He's someone that I have great respect for and seems like an honorable man, but he's not perfect by a long shot. He breaks the rules and follows his own path, which makes him well-rounded and an alluring character to follow. One minute he's a resolute general leading his army, the next he's paying for a prostitute to entertaining him - something that is highly illegal in this particular world, I might add. I was really impressed with how realistic and three-dimensional Jikun is, along with the rest of the characters as well.
We also have Navon, Jikun's co-general, who is similar in the fact that he's a powerful, respectable man, but he also breaks the rule by studying necromancy, an act punishable by death. And then there's Hairem, our newly appointed and inexperienced king who was thrust into the position as a result of his father's death. He struggles with the responsibility and power of being king, as well as with the political negotiations that come with such a position - i.e. figuring out how to deal with his council and not allow himself to be unheard and run over by other powerful political figures that don't want to listen to him. There are so many sides to each person that I felt constantly entertained, and as much as I would love to spend more time on each character, I think I'm going to leave them to you, dear readers, to discover.
And finally, one last thing (out of a great many things) that I loved about Kings or Pawns was the villains. These enemies are easily hated, but not necessarily purely evil - or, maybe they are? There is intrigue on all sides, and although I easily felt disdain towards the characters I was supposed to, I was also impressed and intrigued by their intelligence and sly deviousness, which I believe is the mark of a well-written villain.
Besides the somewhat-cliffhanger ending (which remains vague, spoilers here!), I can definitely see where potential for further expansion of this world in upcoming books lies. There are a few characters that I would have liked to see a bit more of, but I have a strong feeling that they will show up more in later books. In fact, I have the second book lined up on my Kindle right now and I plan to dive in within the next week!
I highly recommend this for any fans of high fantasy or political thrillers - or, quite frankly, anyone who's looking for an exciting read! Because of all the reasons mentioned above, I will be giving Kings or Pawns four-and-a-half stars!
February 22, 2016
Kings or Pawns by J. J. Sherwood Set in a Tolkienesque fantasy world of elves, humans, and centaurs, some strive to do what is right while others seek to take what they can with might. Young King Hairem, whose father was recently slain and much of the Old Blood fled from the city of Elvorium, starts off ruling with a gentle hand, trying his abilities to subtly manipulate the long corrupted politics back into some semblance of decency. Meanwhile, the warlord Saebellus threatens to take over Elvorium, the Council pushes for war with the Centaurs, and an assassin creeps through the city taking out politicians. Hairem definitely has his hands full.
I listened to the audiobook so please excuse any misspellings of names and places.
This book starts off rather slow, setting the political stage and letting the reader get to know the world and characters. At first, the book jumped pretty quickly from one character to another and this made it hard for me to get attached to the characters. But then things settled down with King Hairem and General Jikun as the main characters. They are opposites in most ways. One is young and untried and still idealistic; the other is a more worldly person, a bit jaded, and definitely not pious. I very much enjoyed how these two have to build mutual respect and trust.
The cast is littered with mostly male characters, being human, elven, and helven. Navon is Jikun’s right hand man, but he has a nasty little habit that is scorned by all and punishable by death even though it can save a life or two in the heat of battle. Sellemar comes into the story late but his presence really livens things up. Quite frankly, the story was pretty slow moving until Sellemar offered his assistance and knowledge of certain secrets. He’s a rather cranky bad ass. I like that I am still not sure of his motivations; he’s complicated.
Sadly, there are very few female characters in this book and mostly, they are underutilized. Ilsafel is the daughter of a powerful Elvorium politician and the love interest. Alvena is a mute lass that works in the castle and has a secret crush. Kivervy is a huntress from Jikun’s home town who we spend very little time with and who has to be saved while on a hunt. There’s probably a mother or sister tossed in here or there. All the plot decisions are made by male characters. While this holds true to traditional epic fantasy, it is the 21st century and I have come to adore a more gender balanced approach in fantasy literature.
The first half of the book was pretty slow going. The big baddies of the book were almost like ghostly boogiemen – talked about, feared, but rarely seen on stage. Eventually, we get to meet a few centaurs, but it’s brief. The feared mighty warlord Saebellus doesn’t make a presence until the last quarter of the book. I think this slim and trim approach to the adversaries made it hard for me to fear them and hence to fear for the safety of the characters.
On the plus side, the last sixth of the book has the ladies taking on larger roles, they have more lines, and take a few more actions. Sellemar has his role and that adds action and deeper questions. By the end, it’s clear there is much more to the plot and there have been deep-laid plans. Not everyone makes it out alive! If the first half of the book had been even half as good as the second half of the book, I would give this story a full five stars.
I received a copy of this audiobook at no cost via the book tour company iRead Books in exchange for an honest review.
Narration: Matthew Lloyd Davies did a good job. He had a variety of accents that helped keep the myriad of characters distinct. I really liked the young teen girl voice he picked for the internal monologues of the mute Alvena. He did great as Jikun, especially when Jikun was rightly angry at something.
I listened to the audiobook so please excuse any misspellings of names and places.
This book starts off rather slow, setting the political stage and letting the reader get to know the world and characters. At first, the book jumped pretty quickly from one character to another and this made it hard for me to get attached to the characters. But then things settled down with King Hairem and General Jikun as the main characters. They are opposites in most ways. One is young and untried and still idealistic; the other is a more worldly person, a bit jaded, and definitely not pious. I very much enjoyed how these two have to build mutual respect and trust.
The cast is littered with mostly male characters, being human, elven, and helven. Navon is Jikun’s right hand man, but he has a nasty little habit that is scorned by all and punishable by death even though it can save a life or two in the heat of battle. Sellemar comes into the story late but his presence really livens things up. Quite frankly, the story was pretty slow moving until Sellemar offered his assistance and knowledge of certain secrets. He’s a rather cranky bad ass. I like that I am still not sure of his motivations; he’s complicated.
Sadly, there are very few female characters in this book and mostly, they are underutilized. Ilsafel is the daughter of a powerful Elvorium politician and the love interest. Alvena is a mute lass that works in the castle and has a secret crush. Kivervy is a huntress from Jikun’s home town who we spend very little time with and who has to be saved while on a hunt. There’s probably a mother or sister tossed in here or there. All the plot decisions are made by male characters. While this holds true to traditional epic fantasy, it is the 21st century and I have come to adore a more gender balanced approach in fantasy literature.
The first half of the book was pretty slow going. The big baddies of the book were almost like ghostly boogiemen – talked about, feared, but rarely seen on stage. Eventually, we get to meet a few centaurs, but it’s brief. The feared mighty warlord Saebellus doesn’t make a presence until the last quarter of the book. I think this slim and trim approach to the adversaries made it hard for me to fear them and hence to fear for the safety of the characters.
On the plus side, the last sixth of the book has the ladies taking on larger roles, they have more lines, and take a few more actions. Sellemar has his role and that adds action and deeper questions. By the end, it’s clear there is much more to the plot and there have been deep-laid plans. Not everyone makes it out alive! If the first half of the book had been even half as good as the second half of the book, I would give this story a full five stars.
I received a copy of this audiobook at no cost via the book tour company iRead Books in exchange for an honest review.
Narration: Matthew Lloyd Davies did a good job. He had a variety of accents that helped keep the myriad of characters distinct. I really liked the young teen girl voice he picked for the internal monologues of the mute Alvena. He did great as Jikun, especially when Jikun was rightly angry at something.
August 15, 2016
The True Bloods left Sevrigel after failing to curb the selfish control the Council of Elves has over the King of Sevrigel and the decisions needed to be made in the country. King Liadeltris, the first king of non-royal blood has passed away and the throne is passed on to his son, Hairem, who is still inexperienced in the responsibilities of a king but is fuelled with the desire to prevent the council from wrecking any more troubles. The only elf with pure intentions, King Hairem has to challenge every decision the council makes and try to sway as many as he can to his side. When he meets Ilsevel, the daughter of Nilanis, the El’adorium, he hopes that capturing her heart would has its advantages.
Meanwhile, Saebellus, a rebel general of the Sel’ven is waging war against Sevrigel and Jikun, a general from Darival is chosen to lead the kingdom’s army against him. In the midst of war and politics, an assassin is murdering council members, causing much havoc in the city.
Kings or Pawns is a high fantasy novel focusing on Sevrigel, a land filled with elves of different races and clans. However, unlike most high fantasy, the focus isn’t especially on magic used to fight and win wars. Instead, the elves rely on armour and weapons with only a few of them being capable of magic. Jikun, originating from Darvival, has the ability to control water, freezing it to form ice. His captain, Navon, on the other hand dabbles in necromancy although Jikun has to repeatedly forbid him from using that power which is punishable by death in Sevrigel.
Surprisingly, the king and the Council of Elves aren’t powerful in magic; in fact, there weren’t any mention of them using magic at all. Just like any typical kingdom, the council is made up of the representatives of the various races, each of them wealthy and in control of the economy of the Sevrigel namely the ports, the rivers and the merchants. Kings or Pawns is a story that tells of corruption and politics, both of which can be widely seen in the world today.
The story gets interesting as new characters with resemblance of the heroes of the legends of old turn up and gets involved with the king and the kingdom for reasons known only to them. The True Bloods and legends begin to weave themselves into the current day Sevrigel, causing the council to be wary and at the same time, Saebellus and his army is getting ever nearer despite Jikun’s effort to defeat them.
Kings or Pawns is a suitable title as it gave me an idea of what King Hairem’s struggles are and what position exactly is he positioned in in the presence of the council. Aside from politics, the book also explores the depth of loyalty and friendship and the importance of tradition to people of status as some of them easily twist traditions to work in their favour.
As the story progresses, more and more questions pop out: Who exactly are the True Bloods and why are they suddenly interested in the country they left so many centuries before? What will happen to Jikun and Navon? Although the book is definitely a high fantasy, there is little romance so I recommend this book to readers who love both politics and strategy with an eye for details which are numerous in the book. At the same time, the unique and eloquent names given to the races and the characters draws the attention of the reader to get to know more about them.
King or Pawns is the first book of a series. Naturally, I would hope that the next book focuses on Ryekarayn and the people there as well as the characters who managed to escape to that land.
Meanwhile, Saebellus, a rebel general of the Sel’ven is waging war against Sevrigel and Jikun, a general from Darival is chosen to lead the kingdom’s army against him. In the midst of war and politics, an assassin is murdering council members, causing much havoc in the city.
Kings or Pawns is a high fantasy novel focusing on Sevrigel, a land filled with elves of different races and clans. However, unlike most high fantasy, the focus isn’t especially on magic used to fight and win wars. Instead, the elves rely on armour and weapons with only a few of them being capable of magic. Jikun, originating from Darvival, has the ability to control water, freezing it to form ice. His captain, Navon, on the other hand dabbles in necromancy although Jikun has to repeatedly forbid him from using that power which is punishable by death in Sevrigel.
Surprisingly, the king and the Council of Elves aren’t powerful in magic; in fact, there weren’t any mention of them using magic at all. Just like any typical kingdom, the council is made up of the representatives of the various races, each of them wealthy and in control of the economy of the Sevrigel namely the ports, the rivers and the merchants. Kings or Pawns is a story that tells of corruption and politics, both of which can be widely seen in the world today.
The story gets interesting as new characters with resemblance of the heroes of the legends of old turn up and gets involved with the king and the kingdom for reasons known only to them. The True Bloods and legends begin to weave themselves into the current day Sevrigel, causing the council to be wary and at the same time, Saebellus and his army is getting ever nearer despite Jikun’s effort to defeat them.
Kings or Pawns is a suitable title as it gave me an idea of what King Hairem’s struggles are and what position exactly is he positioned in in the presence of the council. Aside from politics, the book also explores the depth of loyalty and friendship and the importance of tradition to people of status as some of them easily twist traditions to work in their favour.
As the story progresses, more and more questions pop out: Who exactly are the True Bloods and why are they suddenly interested in the country they left so many centuries before? What will happen to Jikun and Navon? Although the book is definitely a high fantasy, there is little romance so I recommend this book to readers who love both politics and strategy with an eye for details which are numerous in the book. At the same time, the unique and eloquent names given to the races and the characters draws the attention of the reader to get to know more about them.
King or Pawns is the first book of a series. Naturally, I would hope that the next book focuses on Ryekarayn and the people there as well as the characters who managed to escape to that land.
September 6, 2016
4.5/5 Stars
I received this book for free from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Wow. Just wow! This book has everything that I love about epic fantasy. Diverse fantastical races, political intrigue, war, epic landscapes...just wow!
The world building created in this book is outstanding! There are so many descriptive details that create a masterfully designed world. If you are looking for a quick and light read, then look elsewhere. This book is a behemoth of complexity. When I am reading a fantasy, I want to be immersed into the world that the author has envisioned. J.J. Sherwood does a brilliant job making the reader feel like they are within this world. I can't even imagine all the time that has been put into the creation of this intricate world. My mind is officially blown!
I really love the character development in this book. It is incredible! The reader really gets a sense for what kind of person each character is and what really drives them. I love the diversity of characters as well. There are many different races of elves, and I love all the details that went into each race to distinguish them. I loved seeing into the lives of all the different walks of life. We get to see the king, politicians, the general, and even servants.
The writing itself was so pleasant to read, and the plot was fantastic. There was never a dull moment in this story, which I loved! Sometimes fantasy stories can lull a bit, but not so much in Kings or Pawns. When there isn't action there is political drama or intense character development. It's quite a brilliant concoction of words that blends into a compelling story that you can't put down. There were some things about the plot that I was able to pinpoint early on, but there were also some very good surprises and twists in there.
There was only one criticism that I had in the entire book. The author uses the term "brow knit" or "brow knitting" a little too much for my liking. Reading the same term over and over was just too repetitive. It could have been changed up a bit.
Overall, this book is outstanding! There is so much depth to this story. If you are a fan of richly imagined fantasy worlds and races, then pick up this book immediately! J.J. Sherwood has a beautiful way of melding characters and worlds. You will enjoy every moment!
More reviews on my blog: The Alchemy of Ink
I received this book for free from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Wow. Just wow! This book has everything that I love about epic fantasy. Diverse fantastical races, political intrigue, war, epic landscapes...just wow!
The world building created in this book is outstanding! There are so many descriptive details that create a masterfully designed world. If you are looking for a quick and light read, then look elsewhere. This book is a behemoth of complexity. When I am reading a fantasy, I want to be immersed into the world that the author has envisioned. J.J. Sherwood does a brilliant job making the reader feel like they are within this world. I can't even imagine all the time that has been put into the creation of this intricate world. My mind is officially blown!
I really love the character development in this book. It is incredible! The reader really gets a sense for what kind of person each character is and what really drives them. I love the diversity of characters as well. There are many different races of elves, and I love all the details that went into each race to distinguish them. I loved seeing into the lives of all the different walks of life. We get to see the king, politicians, the general, and even servants.
The writing itself was so pleasant to read, and the plot was fantastic. There was never a dull moment in this story, which I loved! Sometimes fantasy stories can lull a bit, but not so much in Kings or Pawns. When there isn't action there is political drama or intense character development. It's quite a brilliant concoction of words that blends into a compelling story that you can't put down. There were some things about the plot that I was able to pinpoint early on, but there were also some very good surprises and twists in there.
There was only one criticism that I had in the entire book. The author uses the term "brow knit" or "brow knitting" a little too much for my liking. Reading the same term over and over was just too repetitive. It could have been changed up a bit.
Overall, this book is outstanding! There is so much depth to this story. If you are a fan of richly imagined fantasy worlds and races, then pick up this book immediately! J.J. Sherwood has a beautiful way of melding characters and worlds. You will enjoy every moment!
More reviews on my blog: The Alchemy of Ink
August 27, 2016
This is J.J. Sherwood's first novel, along with that she has done a marvelous job at the world building and characterization of the characters. I had the pleasure to be a part of her blog tour and also took part in reviewing this amazing world in this book. If you love the dynamics of the Lord of the Rings you will love Kings or Pawns with the different classifications of the elvens. The story plunges you into the political ring with the division of elves and other clans of species.
The author J.J. Sherwood pulled together these characters out of her hat and poured them on to the page with such ease. That we can picture them within our minds eye, as we get to know these diverse characters quite well within their Elvorium setting. We see this world unfold around us like a piece of paper that we have folded into a million folds.
Kings or Pawns story is hard to figure out at first who plays those roles, as for the King himself he's a pawn in the political setting of the Elvorium council. What the king Hairem must do to balance his world with the council. As we progress in this amazing adventure into an unseen world that emerges before us, it slowly builds up to many events that you may not see coming. What? "Bam," did that just happened? Wow yes, yes it did! I kept wanting to turn the page again and again. Always wanting to know what happens next, never to be disappointed in the end. I was completely shocked in the end because the author J.J. Sherwood crafted the story so well that it kept me guessing till the very end. I can not wait to continue this series unto the next book Heroes or Thieves ( Steps of Power: The King Book 2).
I highly recommend this book series and give this book ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 out of 5 stars!!
The author J.J. Sherwood pulled together these characters out of her hat and poured them on to the page with such ease. That we can picture them within our minds eye, as we get to know these diverse characters quite well within their Elvorium setting. We see this world unfold around us like a piece of paper that we have folded into a million folds.
Kings or Pawns story is hard to figure out at first who plays those roles, as for the King himself he's a pawn in the political setting of the Elvorium council. What the king Hairem must do to balance his world with the council. As we progress in this amazing adventure into an unseen world that emerges before us, it slowly builds up to many events that you may not see coming. What? "Bam," did that just happened? Wow yes, yes it did! I kept wanting to turn the page again and again. Always wanting to know what happens next, never to be disappointed in the end. I was completely shocked in the end because the author J.J. Sherwood crafted the story so well that it kept me guessing till the very end. I can not wait to continue this series unto the next book Heroes or Thieves ( Steps of Power: The King Book 2).
I highly recommend this book series and give this book ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 out of 5 stars!!
January 22, 2016
The city of Elvorium has become corrupted and is now run by the counsel of Elves. Years prior, the king left the city because of this corruption. But now Prince Hairem going to try to get rid of the counsel of Elves and clean the kingdom. But this is not going to be an easy task. The counsel’s power reaches further than he realized. Those few council members that Hairem has managed to persuade to his ideas are being found murdered. There is an assassin that is bound and determined to keep Hairem from taking full control from the counsel. Now Hairem has to figure out who is friend or foe, who really wants to help him or kill him, and he has to keep Saebellus from attacking Sevrigel.
This is an amazing story. There is so much detail that I felt right there in Sevrigel. There are a wide variety of characters but they all were beautifully described. I couldn’t help but cheer for Hairem, he is trying to do the impossible by removing the corruption from Elvorium. If that was not a big enough task he also has to deal with an assassin killing loyal council members and Saebellus trying to invade Elvorium. His work is definitely cut out for him.
If you like epic fantasy stories I recommend you get a copy of Kings or Pawns. This is the first book by JJ Sherwood and I cannot wait for the next one.
I received Kings or Pawns from iRead Book Tours in exchange for an honest review.
This is an amazing story. There is so much detail that I felt right there in Sevrigel. There are a wide variety of characters but they all were beautifully described. I couldn’t help but cheer for Hairem, he is trying to do the impossible by removing the corruption from Elvorium. If that was not a big enough task he also has to deal with an assassin killing loyal council members and Saebellus trying to invade Elvorium. His work is definitely cut out for him.
If you like epic fantasy stories I recommend you get a copy of Kings or Pawns. This is the first book by JJ Sherwood and I cannot wait for the next one.
I received Kings or Pawns from iRead Book Tours in exchange for an honest review.
June 23, 2016
4.5 stars, rounded up to 5.
"Kings or Pawns" is the first installment of a series that seems to be deliberately going for a grittier version of Tolkien, and for the most part, it works. Set in a world with elves, dwarves, humans, orcs (whom we don't see), and various other creatures, it follows the political intrigue surrounding a new king's attempts to reform his council and battle a rebel general. If this sounds dry, it's not: along with the intrigue, there's romance, swordfights, daring rescues, and a MAJOR plot twist at the end that I can't say anything more about for fear of spoilers, but that had me right on the edge of my seat for the last few chapters.
The worldbuilding is impressively detailed if, as I mentioned above, very Tolkienesque, which is fun but occasionally derivative. The bad council members were almost cartoonishly villainous, and I did have to wonder about the supposedly positive characters who used the services of prostitutes despite the risk of execution for said prostitutes: risking your own life is one thing, but putting someone else in danger of execution is something else entirely. However, these are minor quibbles, and overall the book is an exciting read that should appeal to lots of fans of high fantasy, with the promise of lots more intrigue and adventures to come.
I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
"Kings or Pawns" is the first installment of a series that seems to be deliberately going for a grittier version of Tolkien, and for the most part, it works. Set in a world with elves, dwarves, humans, orcs (whom we don't see), and various other creatures, it follows the political intrigue surrounding a new king's attempts to reform his council and battle a rebel general. If this sounds dry, it's not: along with the intrigue, there's romance, swordfights, daring rescues, and a MAJOR plot twist at the end that I can't say anything more about for fear of spoilers, but that had me right on the edge of my seat for the last few chapters.
The worldbuilding is impressively detailed if, as I mentioned above, very Tolkienesque, which is fun but occasionally derivative. The bad council members were almost cartoonishly villainous, and I did have to wonder about the supposedly positive characters who used the services of prostitutes despite the risk of execution for said prostitutes: risking your own life is one thing, but putting someone else in danger of execution is something else entirely. However, these are minor quibbles, and overall the book is an exciting read that should appeal to lots of fans of high fantasy, with the promise of lots more intrigue and adventures to come.
I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
August 8, 2016
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This is in no way reflected in my opinion of this novel.
I mostly read and review horror or thrillers here at Horror Maiden's but when I was contacted about a review for the Kings or Pawns blog tour the description sounded really good so I decided to give it a shot. I am so glad I did! Kings or Pawns is the first book in an epic fantasy series. Filled with fantastic locations, creatures and characters this book captured my imagination right away. The landscape reminded me of a mix of two of my favorite games (Skyrim & Dragon Age: Inquisition) with impenetrable walled cities, lush forests, swamps, frozen tundra, and hidden tunnels. I loved the witty dialogue and relationships of the main characters. I think that my favorites were Hairem, Alvena, Jikun, Navon, Kaivervi, Erallus, and Sellemar. This book is an exciting adventure, filled with dangerous enemies, epic battles and enough twists and turns you're not sure what will happen next. I can't wait to get my hands on book two of this series! A highly recommended 4.5 star read.
I mostly read and review horror or thrillers here at Horror Maiden's but when I was contacted about a review for the Kings or Pawns blog tour the description sounded really good so I decided to give it a shot. I am so glad I did! Kings or Pawns is the first book in an epic fantasy series. Filled with fantastic locations, creatures and characters this book captured my imagination right away. The landscape reminded me of a mix of two of my favorite games (Skyrim & Dragon Age: Inquisition) with impenetrable walled cities, lush forests, swamps, frozen tundra, and hidden tunnels. I loved the witty dialogue and relationships of the main characters. I think that my favorites were Hairem, Alvena, Jikun, Navon, Kaivervi, Erallus, and Sellemar. This book is an exciting adventure, filled with dangerous enemies, epic battles and enough twists and turns you're not sure what will happen next. I can't wait to get my hands on book two of this series! A highly recommended 4.5 star read.
August 17, 2016
Kings or Pawns The kings book 1 Steps of Power by J.J. Sherwood
I'm hooked! Loved this book, yes epic is a good word to describe this novel. This Author has an incredible voice that explodes onto the pages of this epic tale of Politics, Power and War.
You will be taken away to the Elvin City of Elvorium where you will follow the corruption of the council of Elves. The amazing characters have great depth of personality.
General Jikun, Captain Navon, Hairem, Alvena, Nilanis, Erallus, Sellemar and llsevel to name a few. I feel like I know them all.
The battle scenes are amazingly vivid. The ending is an absolute blindside, I never saw that coming. I can't wait to read book 2.
I give Kings or Pawns 5 stars for it's powerful voice and epic adventure.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys an epic fantasy.
I'm hooked! Loved this book, yes epic is a good word to describe this novel. This Author has an incredible voice that explodes onto the pages of this epic tale of Politics, Power and War.
You will be taken away to the Elvin City of Elvorium where you will follow the corruption of the council of Elves. The amazing characters have great depth of personality.
General Jikun, Captain Navon, Hairem, Alvena, Nilanis, Erallus, Sellemar and llsevel to name a few. I feel like I know them all.
The battle scenes are amazingly vivid. The ending is an absolute blindside, I never saw that coming. I can't wait to read book 2.
I give Kings or Pawns 5 stars for it's powerful voice and epic adventure.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys an epic fantasy.
September 20, 2015
A great intro to the world of J.J. Sherwood, Kings or Pawns is full of wonderful characters and brilliant imagery. We start off with intrigue to discover a land ruled by Elves, with magnificent cites and regal statesmen(states-elves?). Read on to find that not everything is as neat and benevolent as the exteriors would have you believe! Get started with the first installment in an epic series, with a good peek at the high fantasy adventure that awaits!
My favorite thing about this story is there's a personality in it for everyone to get hooked into following, for many different types of readers.
No I'm not telling you any more, spoilers are for sissies, GO READ THE BOOK.
I plan on re-reading this many times, and anxiously await the additions to the series!
My favorite thing about this story is there's a personality in it for everyone to get hooked into following, for many different types of readers.
No I'm not telling you any more, spoilers are for sissies, GO READ THE BOOK.
I plan on re-reading this many times, and anxiously await the additions to the series!
August 12, 2016
was given a copy of this book by the Author for an honest review.
Kings or Pawns (Steps of Power: The Kings Book 1) is a masterpiece! The characters and story line are very well-developed. With the old King dead and the Prince Hairem taking the throne, he is shaking up the Council. Now there is an assassin now murdering the council . This is also going on as the same time as the war they are fighting in against warlord Saebellus. He is a threat to the city, and to the city Sevrigel. This is a fantasy series worth reading. If you love the Dungeon &Dragon series of books, this would be up there with them with names like R.A. Salvator, and Ed Greenwood. I loved this book and cannot wait for the next. I give KINGS OR PAWNS 5/5 STARS. Are we Kings or Pawns? You decide?
Kings or Pawns (Steps of Power: The Kings Book 1) is a masterpiece! The characters and story line are very well-developed. With the old King dead and the Prince Hairem taking the throne, he is shaking up the Council. Now there is an assassin now murdering the council . This is also going on as the same time as the war they are fighting in against warlord Saebellus. He is a threat to the city, and to the city Sevrigel. This is a fantasy series worth reading. If you love the Dungeon &Dragon series of books, this would be up there with them with names like R.A. Salvator, and Ed Greenwood. I loved this book and cannot wait for the next. I give KINGS OR PAWNS 5/5 STARS. Are we Kings or Pawns? You decide?
August 11, 2016
Kings or Pawns: The Kings, Book I is a novel of political intrigue set in a fantasy world – in the corrupt city of Elvorium. The brave and tenacious Hairem has recently become King of the elven world on Sevrigel, but when his city is threatened by an assasin, a warlord, and immense danger, Hairem must choose the correct course of action as King. Set against the backdrop of Sherwood’s majestic fantasy world, Kings or Pawns would be a good fit for fans of Lord of the Rings series. The epic novel includes plenty of action and adventure, and both the plot and characters have been formed with impeccable detail.
*I received this book for review*
*I received this book for review*
August 18, 2016
Yes! Read this! High fantasy, a new world, magical creatures, lies, mystery, murder and intrigue! A book I can totally stand behind. Sherwood's first published piece is well crafted and filled with emotion. The characters are powerful and endearing and the setting, vivid. Saebellus is a menacing villain and the heroes are believable. I can't wait to read the second installment! Check out my blog post on storyrealmblog.wordpress.com for a longer review! And stop by JJ Sherwood's web page for more info on her Steps of Power blog tour! stepsofpower.com
August 29, 2015
I heard about this book through a friend who is into fantasy books and highly recommended it. I've read some fantasy novels, but it's not my main genre. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and highly recommend it. The character development was excellent and there was action throughout. I won't give anything away , but there are also some excellent plot twists that really hold your interest. I can't wait for the next book.
August 22, 2015
Had a chance to read this book before it was released. I've never been a big fan of fantasy, but I loved this book! Great character development and intriguing plot - couldn't put the book down. Only complaint I have is having to wait for the sequel. I can't wait to see what happens to my favorite characters.
February 20, 2016
This book is incredible. I mean that. I cannot believe how the story came together. Just as loose ends appeared to be trying up, JJ Sherwood lit the whole strand on fire. The characters feel authentic, the emotions are real, and the conflict is heartbreaking. If you want a ride of a novel, get Kings or Pawns today.
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